Success Story 04/13/2024

Brandon George, Kenton County Horticulture Extension Agent

Sharing Extension Knowledge and Resources with the people of Belize

On the morning of Friday, January 26, eleven extension specialists and agents presented at the San Antonio Women’s Cooperative in the village of San Antonio, Belize. As part of a study tour of Belize, led by Dr. Jennifer Hunter, our group was tasked with presenting on topics within our scope of expertise that would provide relevant information and tools for the benefit of the people of Belize. In this village, with a population of approximately 2124, the people were predominantly Yukatek-speaking Maya, and lived in a way that reflects both traditional Mayan culture, as well living with modern-day conveniences and technologies. Three agents, Cortney Moses, Maelyn Dotson, and I, were tasked with presenting on the use of personal protective equipment as well as sustainable agriculture to target our focus audience on those in the agriculture industry.

Prior to our presentation, much time was spent researching agriculture and the culture around farming in Belize to help better understand what challenges people were experiencing as well as understanding what tools were available to help support their work and safety.

We began by discussing our understanding of the risks of using chemicals to treat pest and disease issues as well as weed pressures farmers have. Knowing that both financial resources and accessibility of personal protective equipment (PPE) is something of a luxury for many who work in the industry, we focused on cultural and best management practices that could mitigate the risks of exposure to toxic levels of chemicals without requiring additional expenses to implement. In the second part of our presentation, we discussed practices that would help farmers maintain the health of their soil while maximizing the potential profitability of private land and reducing environmentally damaging practices.

We had a man in our audience who was a local farmer who we were able to talk to about particular concerns he was dealing with. After the presentation, we were fortunate to have brought some PPE for demonstration purposes that we were able to donate to him and other local villagers. He told us about the crops he grew and about the safety equipment that he was able to obtain. His daughter told us privately that he often dealt with headaches which are often a symptom of acute pesticide exposure.

With an audience of 17 people of varying ages, twelve men and five women present, the mission of UKY Cooperative Extension reached beyond the state borders. The impact will potentially be lasting for those were engaged that day, along with the family and friends who may have shared the knowledge presented in San Antonio.